V225--Urgent & Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport (VA-26-00001836)

The contract for Urgent and Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport under solicitation number 36C26326Q0548 is a firm-fixed-price agreement issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs, Network Contracting Office 23, based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, with administrative oversight centered in Coralville, Iowa. The service covers ground ambulance transport across Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri, including VA medical facilities such as Omaha VAMC and Holdrege CBOC, with a performance period extending from June 1, 2026, through May 31, 2031, structured as five consecutive one-year ordering periods with options to extend each by up to six months. Offerors must demonstrate technical capability through a detailed submission addressing driver qualifications, staffing adequacy, vehicle fleet readiness, business licensing, insurance compliance, and communication systems, with all sub-factors required to meet minimum thresholds for technical acceptability. Past performance and pricing are evaluated in sequence, with the award based on a trade-off analysis allowing selection of the proposal offering the best overall value, not necessarily the lowest price. The contract mandates compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including HHS 150-hour training standards for personnel, OSHA and CDC protocols for sanitation and infection control, and strict on-time performance benchmarks requiring 97% of pickups to occur within 15 minutes of schedule. Personnel must undergo background checks equivalent to VA employee investigations, including fingerprinting and annual re-investigations, with restrictions on criminal history and driving records. All contractors must be registered in SAM.gov with a Unique Entity ID, comply with cybersecurity and supply chain security requirements including prohibitions on ByteDance applications and certain telecommunications equipment, and submit invoices electronically via the VA’s EIPPS system using X12 EDI standards. Insurance and indemnification obligations are enforced through VA-specific clauses, including liquidated damages for data breaches and mandatory worker’s compensation and public liability coverage. The contract requires full adherence to VAAR provisions for small business subcontracting, whistleblower rights, privacy protection, and ethical conduct, with all subcontractors bound by the same stringent terms. Proposals must be submitted as five separate PDFs by April 23, 2026, and include a cover letter, table of contents, technical submission, past performance documentation, and a completed SF-1449 with verified pricing.